GLAAD - Brothers & Sistershttp://www.glaad.org/tags/brothers-sisters
enCreator Greg Berlanti Speaks With GLAAD About His New Series, Political Animalshttp://www.glaad.org/blog/creator-greg-berlanti-speaks-glaad-about-his-new-series-political-animals
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-0-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/greg-berlanti.jpg?itok=O79cjdw2" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This past Sunday night saw the premiere of USA’s latest miniseries, <a href="http://www.usanetwork.com/series/politicalanimals/"><em>Political Animals</em></a>, from out creator Greg Berlanti. The show follows Secretary of State (and former first lady) Elaine Barrish, played by Sigourney Weaver, as she navigates the tricky political waters of DC and a complicated family life with her ex-husband, mother, and two grown sons. One of those sons became famous for being the first openly gay teenager in the White House, but now struggles with the scars that being outed on the national stage can leave behind.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="243" id="2" style="width: 379px; height: 243px;;;" width="379" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/political_animals_2277741b.jpg?itok=mnWao3B1" alt="" /></p>
<p>Berlanti has long included LGBT characters in the shows he’s worked on, including the WB drama <em>Dawson’s Creek</em> and the ABC series <em>Brothers &amp; Sisters</em> and <em>Dirty Sexy Money</em>. He was also the writer/director of the classic gay romantic comedy The Broken Hearts Club. GLAAD recently had the opportunity to ask Berlanti about what led him to create <em>Political Animals</em>, as well as what he hoped to achieve through the show’s gay and lesbian characters.</p>
<p><strong>What first inspired you to tell this story?</strong><br /> I really just wanted to check in with my voice as a writer and write a spec -- my first solo spec since <em>Everwood</em>. I wanted to write something in the political world since I'm kind of a political junkie -- I've always been fascinated about the personal lives of politicians and the sacrifies they make and what affects their judgment. I also knew I wanted strong female characters at the center of it. And talking about the idea with my friend Larry Mark, it all kind of came together.<br /><br /><strong>From shows like <em>Brothers &amp; Sisters</em> and <em>Dirty Sexy Money</em>, you’ve helped create some of the most memorable LGBT characters on television, but on the surface, Political Animals’ Thomas Hammond is a very different character from say, <em>B&amp;S</em>’ Kevin Walker. How did you conceive of Thomas’ character, and what made you want to depict someone who’s struggling with issues like addiction?</strong><br /> <img class="media-image" height="202" id="2" style="width: 152px; height: 202px; float: right; margin: 2px;;;" width="152" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/sebastian-stan.jpg?itok=wd8SAEwM" alt="" />I wanted to show how being in the White House has affected this family. T.J. and Douglas are twins, they both grew up in the White House, but I wanted to explore how their upbringing shaped them in such different ways. Douglas goes on to work for his mother, while T.J., who was forced out of the closet at a young age, has had a much more difficult time dealing with his family's way of life. And, yes, T.J. struggles with drug addition, something I think a lot of people in the public eye, as well as young gay people, can relate to. But, really, all of our characters have one kind of addiction or another--whether it be power, sex, alcohol--they just take on different forms. As for T.J.'s battle with drugs, we're at the beginning of his story. And my hope for him is his character grows, as I hope each of our characters do.<br /><br /><strong>T.J.’s relationship with his family, and his mother in particular, looks like it will be a significant part of his storyline. What informed the way you wrote those relationships, and how do they compare with other relationships between LGBT people and their families that you’ve created before?</strong><br /> I think being forced out of the closet at a young age has in many ways robbed T.J. of his own coming out process, and has affected his ability to cope with being a public figure. Elaine is very sensitive to people taking advantage of him because of that history. But, also, because Elaine is so ambitious and driven and devoted to her job, many of the decisions she has to make are in the best interests of the country, which might not necessarily line up with best interests of her family. <br /><br /><strong>We’re also very much looking forward to Vanessa Redgrave’s guest appearance as a lesbian Supreme Court Justice on an upcoming episode. What was the inspiration for her character, and her relationship with Sigourney Weaver’s Secretary of State Elaine Barrish?</strong><br /> Vanessa's character is a kind of trail blazer, a strong woman who breaks through barriers. And, as a trail blazer in today's world, being the first openly gay Supreme Court Justice just kind of made sense. Bud had appointed her during his presidency, which I think says a lot about what kind of President Bud was -- even though Elaine was the one who really pushed for her nomination. She was Elaine's professor in law school and has remained a strong mentor to her ever since, but they kind of find themselves at odds with each other here for the first time.<br /><br /><strong>You’ve included LGBT characters in many of the projects you’ve created or worked on, going all the way back to your film The Broken Hearts Club. What drives you to tell their stories, and why do you think it’s important to represent the LGBT community in the media?</strong><br /> I think the goal for a writer is to write characters that feel true and real, and writing gay characters allows me to really kind of explore myself through them. And I think the more we can tell their stories, the more people will hear them, and hopefully be able to explore a little bit of themselves, too.<br /><br /> The second episode of Political Animals airs Sunday night at 10/9c on USA, and you can <a href="http://www.usanetwork.com/videos/Political%20Animals/Full%20Episodes/vid:18784802">watch the first episode online here</a>.</p>
<p><object height="239" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VbZAguNjmDM?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="239" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VbZAguNjmDM?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></embed></object></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 19, 2012</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/television">Television</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/greg-berlanti">Greg Berlanti</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/political-animals">Political Animals</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/usa">USA</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/brothers-sisters">Brothers &amp; Sisters</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:55:35 +0000mattkane58645 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/creator-greg-berlanti-speaks-glaad-about-his-new-series-political-animals#commentsTen TV Shows That Helped Shape National Attitudes on Same-Sex Couples and Marriage Equalityhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/ten-tv-shows-helped-shape-national-attitudes-same-sex-couples-and-marriage-equality
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-1-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="1" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/calzona-wedding-dance.jpg?itok=oHCY6Gzl" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Today, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/video-historic-move-president-obama-announces-support-marriage-equality">President Barack Obama became the first sitting US President to officially support marriage equality for same-sex couples.</a> According to his own staff, the President’s position and thoughts on the subject have evolved over time to reach this point, and he’s not the only one. As the newest polls demonstrate, the country on a whole continues to progressively evolve in its recognition of same-sex relationships, and as Vice President Joe Biden himself has admitted, television programs and popular culture can take quite a bit of the credit.</p>
<p>For many Americans, it was television shows that gave them their first images of same-sex couples, and a chance to recognize the commonalities with their own lives. TV couples like Mitchell and Cam on <em>Modern Family</em>, of which President Obama has <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20553487,00.html">admitted to being a big fan</a>, show audiences that the lives and relationships of LGBT people are just as complex, mundane, and important as those of straight people. </p>
<p>Check out our list below, and add your own in the comments.</p>
<p><strong>Thirtysomething</strong></p>
<p><img class="media-image" id="2" style="margin: 2px; float: right;" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/250px-30somethinggay.jpg?itok=QFvPW3gI" alt="" />A good indicator of how far we’ve come was the controversy surrounding the 1989 show <em>Thirtysomething </em>after it depicted a male couple having a conversation in bed together. Conservative activists were outraged, and convinced many of the show’s advertisers <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/14/business/ads-reportedly-lost-because-of-gay-scene.html">to pull their support</a>. Though it wasn’t as well received at the time, the show should definitely be credited with showing a same sex couple in a private but ordinary moment in what was a television first. As the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/business/media/gay-on-tv-its-all-in-the-family.html?_r=2&amp;smid=fb-share"><em>New York Times</em> recently pointed out</a>, a scene like that today would likely garner more controversy for what it didn’t show as opposed to what it did.</p>
<p><strong>Ellen and The Ellen DeGeneres Show</strong></p>
<p>There’s probably no single person who’s done more to advance the image of LGBT people in the media than Ellen DeGeneres. She made history when she came out both in real life and on her sitcom, <em>Ellen</em>, which went on to depict her newly out character entering the dating world. But when it comes to helping the public to better understand and accept same-sex couples, she may have made an even greater impact on her daytime talk show. In regularly sharing quirky anecdotes about her life and relationship with her audience, Ellen has helped millions of viewers quickly recognize the common ground they share with couples like her and Portia De Rossi. And when Ellen announced she and Portia were engaged to be married in California (pre-Prop 8), it was a celebration we were all too happy to share with her. <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/ellen-commends-president-obamas-announcement-support-marriage-equality">Watch Ellen commend Obama for his support of marriage equality.</a></p>
<p><object width="425" height="318"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FmO-WvSyEx8?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FmO-WvSyEx8?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="318"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Roseanne</strong></p>
<p>Not only did Roseanne Barr’s sitcom feature one of TV’s first same-sex kisses when she locked lips with Mariel Hemingway, but she also featured one of television’s first same-sex marriage ceremonies when her character helped plan the wedding of her boss Leon to his longtime partner Fred. Though Roseanne ended up going a bit over the top with the wedding theme, the show made sure that the sentiment and love shared by Leon and Fred ultimately came through loud and clear.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="318"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/udq5gRRh4Dg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/udq5gRRh4Dg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="318"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Friends</strong></p>
<p><em>Friends</em> remains one of TV’s all-time greatest hits, and it made headlines when Ross and company got together to celebrate his ex-wife Carol’s wedding to her partner Susan. And when Carol’s disapproving parents failed to show, he movingly stepped in to walk her down the aisle.</p>
<p><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="video/youtube" src="/modules/file/icons/video-x-generic.png" /> <a href="/" type="video/youtube; length=0">dHB7aPJVVOY</a></span></p>
<p><strong>Will &amp; Grace</strong></p>
<p>Following the eventual cancellation of Ellen, many thought a sitcom with two gay lead characters was a risk, but Will &amp; Grace soon turned into a runaway hit. In addition to producing some hilarious and classic comedy, the show also invited audiences to get to know its gay characters better nearly every week for eight seasons. Vice President Joe Biden even recently credited the show with educating the public on LGBT issues including marriage equality.</p>
<p><strong>All My Children</strong></p>
<p>Daytime television and soap opera have their own set of firsts, and among them was the wedding of Bianca and Reese on long running soap All My Children in 2009. The show made headlines when the daughter of main character Erica Kane came out, and she’s seen her fair share of melodrama since then, but remained a significant part of the show up until its cancellation last year.</p>
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<p><strong>Queer As Folk and The L Word</strong></p>
<p>Though neither of these Showtime produced programs was heavily marketed to a mainstream audience, they each become big hits for the premium cable network that built on their initial viewer base. In fact a surprising number of younger straight people still credit one or both of these programs with expanding their understanding of LGBT couples and relationships, and deserve a nod.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="318"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QNEe_vJh2kA?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QNEe_vJh2kA?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="318"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Brothers &amp; Sisters</strong></p>
<p>The ABC drama Brothers &amp; Sisters featured one of TV’s longest running gay couples with Scotty and Kevin, who went from strangers to husbands and fathers over the course of five seasons. In fact their story was one of the first to give extended consideration to the issues of adoption for same-sex couples, and often pointed out the difficulties they encountered by not having a legally recognized relationship.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="318"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fNYs3vR-qYg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fNYs3vR-qYg?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="318"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Grey’s Anatomy</strong></p>
<p>The Shonda Rhimes created series Grey’s Anatomy has seen its fair share of stories about same-sex couples over the years (as many of her shows do), but few of them got the happy ending that regular characters Callie and Arizona did when they finally got married. Now also raising a child together, we’re excited to see what the show has in store for them next.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="246"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/be1NKwJa-a0?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/be1NKwJa-a0?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="246"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Modern Family</strong></p>
<p>ABC has repeatedly proven its commitment to inclusivity through many of the shows listed here, as well as others like Desperate Housewives. Modern Family continues this tradition through its hilarious, loving, and relatable depiction of a committed same-sex couple raising a child together. When shows like this show the American public just how similar the relationships of LGBT people are to their own, it becomes that much clearer that same-sex couples deserve the same protections and chance to care for one another as all Americans.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="246"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8z8EOxAkpJY?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8z8EOxAkpJY?version=3&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="246"></embed></object></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150871212653840&amp;set=a.468379118839.258644.186319338839&amp;type=1&amp;theater"><img class="media-image" id="3" style="width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/1200px/public/tumblr_m3rt09ikBl1r5jus8o1_1280.png?itok=cZnAGow1" alt="" /></a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">May 9, 2012</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/television">Television</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/marriage-equality">Marriage Equality</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/president-obama">President Obama</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/vice-president-biden">Vice President Biden</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/modern-family">Modern Family</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/greys-anatomy">Grey&#039;s Anatomy</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/queer-folk">Queer as Folk</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/l-word">The L Word</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/all-my-children">All My Children</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/roseanne">Roseanne</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/friends">Friends</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/will-grace">Will &amp; Grace</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/brothers-sisters">Brothers &amp; Sisters</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Thu, 10 May 2012 01:36:59 +0000mattkane49968 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/ten-tv-shows-helped-shape-national-attitudes-same-sex-couples-and-marriage-equality#commentsWorld AIDS Day: How are TV and Film Addressing the Epidemic?http://www.glaad.org/blog/world-aids-day-how-are-tv-and-film-addressing-epidemic
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-2-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img id="2" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/mondo-guerra-jack-mackenroth-2011-5-15-13-0-0.jpg?itok=UJ2518Gz" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>On World AIDS Day, we commemorate those who have been lost to the epidemic while also showing unity in continued efforts to fight it and recognizing the ways it has reshaped our world. Much of that has been reflected in the art and mass media produced about HIV/AIDS, though attention to the epidemic in the media hasn’t always remained consistent.</p>
<p>Ask anyone to name a movie about AIDS, and they’ll most likely say <em>Philadelphia</em> (1993). The film won an Oscar for Tom Hank’s performance as a gay lawyer suing his former firm for firing him after learning he had AIDS, and it is cited by many as a catalyst for more mainstream attention to the human tragedy inflicted by the epidemic. </p>
<p>While it might be the most famous, <em>Philadelphia</em> was hardly the only great film that addresses the issue. Several years earlier<em>, Longtime Companion</em> (1989) poignantly dramatized the intense devastation the epidemic wrought on communities of gay men, while <em>Parting Glances</em> (1986) was one of the first to incorporate a character living with AIDS into its storyline. You can learn more about <a href="http://www.glaad.org/2011/06/07/aids-at-30-a-legacy-of-groundbreaking-films">these films and others </a><a href="2011/06/07/aids-at-30-a-legacy-of-groundbreaking-films">here</a>.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="178" id="2" style="width: 415px; height: 178px;" width="415" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/philadelphiamovie_wallpaper_pictures_photo_pics_poster110410205043philadelphia_3.jpg?itok=5S3ROOjr" alt="" /></p>
<p>There have been only a handful of scripted films that directly addressed the epidemic in the last few years though, and fewer still that received any mainstream attention. <em>3 Needles</em> (2005) told three different stories of how AIDS impacted communities around the world and featured stars like Lucy Liu and Chloe Sevigny. <em>The Hours</em> (2002) and <em>A Home at The End of the World</em> (2004) both featured characters dealing with AIDS, and more recently, the Oscar-nominated film <em>Precious </em>(2009) centered around an HIV-positive teenager.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="180" id="2" style="width: 412px; height: 180px;" width="412" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/precious_3_0.jpg?itok=U8daLYyI" alt="" /></p>
<p>Representations on television as well haven’t been common in recent years, though there have been some notable ones. The long-running NBC medical drama <em>ER</em> featured HIV-positive doctor Jeanie Boulet for several seasons, while Showtime’s adaptation of <em>Queer As Folk</em> saw main character Michael in a relationship with an HIV- positive man named Ben for the last three seasons of the show. Though it unfortunately ended its run this spring, ABC’s <em>Brothers &amp;Sisters</em> revealed in its final season that Uncle Saul had been living with HIV. There are currently no HIV-positive characters in regular or recurring roles on US TV.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="191" id="2" style="width: 413px; height: 191px;" width="413" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2C%2Cbs.jpg?itok=tMg8-VoQ" alt="" /></p>
<p>Documentary film and reality TV is another matter entirely though. There have been a slew of documentaries about HIV/AIDS over the years, including the Oscar-winning <em>Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt</em> (1989) which illuminated several stories from the Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, D.C. Just this month, the stirring documentary <em>We Were Here</em>, which examines the onset of the epidemic in San Francisco, was nominated for a Spirit Award and made the Oscar documentary category shortlist. Yesterday, the Sundance Film Festival announced that a new film about medical efforts to turn HIV/AIDS into a manageable condition, <em>How to Survive a Plague</em>, would play in competition at the 2012 festival.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="181" id="2" style="width: 414px; height: 181px;" width="414" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/aids_quilt.jpg?itok=3_bXn1RG" alt="" /></p>
<p>On television, one of the most famous reality show cast members of all time helped put a face on HIV/AIDS for an entire generation. MTV’s pioneering reality series <em>The Real World</em> featured the HIV-positive Pedro Zamora in its 1994 season, who went on to inspire a generation of advocates. Much more recently, the Emmy winning <em>Project Runway</em> has featured several HIV- positive contestants including designers Jack Mackenroth and Mondo Guerra, whose moving story also helped win the series a GLAAD Media Awards. On Logo, <em>Rupaul’s Drag Race</em> continues to dedicate episodes each season to promoting M.A.C. Cosmetics Viva Glam campaign to help raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS, and season one competitor Ongina tearfully revealed that he had been secretly living with HIV himself. All of these individuals provided strong reminders of the importance of telling stories that reflect the lives of people who are not only living with HIV/AIDS but also surviving and thriving.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="166" id="2" style="width: 414px; height: 166px;" width="414" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/ongina_02.jpg?itok=lId5sZNK" alt="" /></p>
<p>It’s tempting to speculate on why there have been fewer scripted storylines about HIV/AIDS in the last few years, while they continue to be well represented in documentary film and reality television. More important though, is to recognize and emphasize how characters living with the virus like those on <em>Brothers &amp; Sisters</em> and <em>ER</em> were a model for how stories like these can be organically integrated into the world a show creates. They can not only diversify and enrich a show’s narrative, but help educate, foster understanding, and simply remind viewers that there are still countless people affected by HIV/AIDS. Hollywood must remember that as the struggle continues on a global scale, the media we create and consume still plays a vital role.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">December 1, 2011</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/film">Film</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/television">Television</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/world-aids-day">World AIDS Day</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/project-runway">Project Runway</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/rupauls-drag-race">RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/real-world">The Real World</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/we-were-here">We Were Here</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/brothers-sisters">Brothers &amp; Sisters</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/longtime-companion">Longtime Companion</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:18:36 +0000mattkane45891 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/world-aids-day-how-are-tv-and-film-addressing-epidemic#comments